What's happening this weekend in Sebastopol?
A Celtic Christmas, Handel's Sing-along Messiah, Holiday Bingo, Fiddler on the Roof Sing-along, and more
Holiday Cheer at The Feed Store
Friday, Dec. 13, 3 pm to 4 pm at The Feed Store 265 Petaluma Ave. Sebastopol,
There will be festive treats, hot cocoa, and a delightful atmosphere to get you into the holiday spirit. Bring your friends and family to enjoy some merry moments and perhaps find a special gift or two.
Holiday Bingo Night for Best Buddies
Friday, Dec. 13, 5:30 pm to 7 pm, at the Analy High School Cafeteria, 6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
This event is open to the community and aims to raise awareness about Best Buddies, a program that matches students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities with other students at Analy for support and friendship. They are raising funds for the Second Annual Best Buddies Prom. Your $10 ticket includes three bingo cards, Extra cards are 3 for $5 or $2 each.
David Luning at HopMonk
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, 8 pm, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave.,
Sebastopol. $25.
Inspired by the music of John Prine, Luning dropped out of music school and devoted himself to songwriting and performing. He worked his way up through open mics to large festival performances, piecing together a band to flesh out his songs along the way and hitting the road to tour with a fierce determination. His self-released debut album, 'Just Drop On By,' garnered acclaim from both critics and fellow musicians alike, with country megastar Keith Urban hailing Luning's “staunch originality.” Songs from the album landed numerous film and TV placements, most recently on NBC’s ‘Grimm,’ and Luning’s reputation for exhilarating live performances earned him dates with luminaries like Jackie Greene, Dave and Phil Alvin, and Elvin Bishop, along with a slew of festival performances up and down the West Coast. Get tickets.
Holiday Art Market at Taylor Lane
Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 am to 5 pm, at Taylor Lane Coffee, 6790 McKinley (in the Barlow, Sebastopol.
Local Artists Susan Annette Wosk, Amy Contardi, Patricia Marina and Tim Malisch offering: indoor and garden pressed tin art, watercolor paintings with words of wisdom, greeting cards, ceramic bowls and more. They will be inside and in front of Taylor Lane Organic Coffee. Added treat: local singers, ‘The Sugars,’ will be performing holiday songs around 1 pm.
Wreaths Across America
Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 am, at Pleasant Hill Memorial Park, 1700 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol.
The local VFW Post 3919 will be participating in the nationwide program Wreaths Across America this coming Saturday. The community is invited. Help us lay wreaths on the graves of those who served and remember their sacrifices. This is a beautiful way to give back to our veterans and their families.
Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 14. Matinee at 3 pm, evening program at 7:30 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $10-$50
For the past 29 years, with a world-class ensemble of musicians, dancers and singers from both sides of the Atlantic, Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas has played to packed concert halls and to critical acclaim nationwide, recreating on stage the now-famous Rambling House—that remote cottage in the west of Ireland, where the neighbors gather every year for a communal night before Christmas. There, the rafters ring with fiery traditional music, Irish Christmas carols, riveting traditional dance and, of course, stories of life in the remote parish of Teampall an Ghleanntáin, Tomáseen’s birthplace. The show invites its audience to come into that cottage, into that world, into that era, and be our neighbors for the night. Get tickets.
Parenting Teens: A Workshop for Empowered Connection
Friday, Dec. 13, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Parenting a teen can feel like navigating a maze, where every turn reveals new opportunities and challenges. This workshop is designed to provide clarity, confidence, and connection for parents seeking to better understand and support their teens. Come be part of an engaging, interactive experience with practical tools to enrich your parenting journey. Whether you’re feeling challenged by social media, struggling with effective communication, or curious about the science behind your teen’s behavior, this workshop offers support and understanding. RSVP to hold your spot.
Sing Along Messiah
Saturday, Dec. 14, 1 pm to 3:15 pm, at the United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $10-$20 donation.
Listeners and singers at all skill levels are welcome. Singers from Harmonia, the community choir at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, will bolster the choral sound. Because Messiah was specifically composed to need only a few rehearsals, it is ideal for non-professional choruses. In the 1820s, Handel Festivals across England began featuring performances by amateur choruses in what came to be called “Scratch Messiahs” or “the People’s Messiah.” Join Sebastopol’s own People’s Messiah this week. Dress warmly because doors will be open for ventilation.
Holiday Open House at the Laguna Environmental Center
Saturday, Dec. 14, 1 pm to 3 pm, at the Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. Free, but donations welcome.
Enjoy our current exhibit “Flora of the Laguna,” featuring botanical illustrations by Sonoma County artists focusing on the conservation and restoration of native plants of the Laguna. Artists will demonstrate their drawing techniques with colored pencil, ink and watercolor. Garden tours at 1:15 pm and 2:15 pm. Plus, there’s a gift shop inventory for your conservation-inspired shopping needs. No RSVP needed.
Fiddler on the Roof Singalong at the Rialto
Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $13.25 to $15.35.
Rialto Cinemas and the Sonoma County JCC presents Fiddler on the Roof Sing-A-Long! Originally based on Sholem Aleichem’s short story “Tevye and His Daughters,” Norman Jewison’s adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical is set in a Russian village at the beginning of the twentieth century. Israeli actor Topol repeats his legendary London stage performance as Tevye the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudice of non-Jews, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Get tickets.
Alzheimer’s Association: Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol. Free.
If you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another chronic illness, it’s never too early to put financial plans in place. Join us to learn tips for managing someone else’s finances, how to prepare for future care costs and the benefits of early planning. Registration for this event will close on December 14, 2024 at 1 pm. Reserve your spot now.
The Old World Carolers: Angels & Minstrels
Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 pm, at Sebastopol United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $10 donation.
A special early music concert with acappella carols from 12th-16th century England, France, Germany, Catalonia, Spain, and Bulgaria. The second half includes early carols familiar to many in our country, and lyrics are provided for those who want to sing along. The concert benefits World Central Kitchen and Methodist charities, and donations are tax-deductible. With fun and surprises, all ages are welcome.